Rock Island finds buyer for Welch ATM

Cardtronics has agreed to buy Welch ATM for about $160 million. The seller is Rock Island Capital.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter. The combined Cardtronics/Welch will have more than 109,600 ATMs globally, according to a July 21 statement. Jeff Hewitt, Welch’s CEO, also owned a stake in the company. Hewitt is joining Cardtronics as EVP, Financial Institution and Retail Sales and Relationship Management, Cardtronics said.

News of the Welch ATM auction was first reported by peHUB in April. William Blair advised on the deal.

Rock Island, an Oak Brook, Illinois-based PE firm, invested in Welch in 2010. Welch, of Peoria, Illinois, has more than 26,000 ATMs under its management.

Houston-based Cardtronics also has ties to private equity. TA Associates and CapStreet Group were once investors of the ATM operator. Cardtronics went public in December 2007 and the two PE firms eventually cashed out.

Executives for Cardtronics, William Blair and Rock Island did not reply to requests for comment.